Beatæ Mariæ Virginis de Monte Carmelo

The phrase "Beatæ Mariæ Virginis de Monte Carmelo" is Latin for "Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel". It is associated with the **Carmelite Order**, a Roman Catholic religious order that was founded in the 12th century on Mount Carmel.

This order is also known as the **Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel. The Carmelites trace their roots and their name to Mount Carmel in the Holy Land, where a group of European men gathered in the 13th century to live a simple life of prayer¹. Their first chapel was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and they called themselves the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel.

There is also a branch of the Carmelite Order known as the **Discalced Carmelites**. The term "discalced" is derived from Latin, meaning "without shoes". This branch was established in the 16th century, pursuant to the reform of the Carmelite Order by two Spanish saints, Teresa of Ávila (foundress) and John of the Cross (co-founder).

The phrase "Beatæ Mariæ Virginis de Monte Carmelo" is particularly significant on July 16th, when the Carmelite Order celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

(1) Carmelites - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmelites.

(2) Carmelites - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmelites.

(3) Discalced Carmelites - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discalced_Carmelites.

(4) Die 16 Julii. Decimo septimo Kalendas Augusti. Festum beatae Mariae .... https://www.korazym.org/105134/die-16-julii-decimo-septimo-kalendas-augusti-festum-beatae-mariae-virginis-de-monte-carmelo/.

More:

The Carmelite Order, also known as the **Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel** (Ordo Fratrum Beatissimæ Virginis Mariæ de Monte Carmelo in Latin), is a mendicant order in the Roman Catholic Church¹. Here are some key points about the Carmelite Order:

- **Origins**: The order traces its origins back to Mount Carmel in the Holy Land. It was probably founded in the 12th century by a group of European men who had settled near the traditional fountain of Elijah. These men, possibly former pilgrims or crusaders, lived as hermits in separate cells or huts, observing vows of silence, seclusion, abstinence, and austerity.

- **Founders**: While historical records about its origin remain uncertain, Berthold of Calabria and Albert of Vercelli have traditionally been associated with the founding of the order.

- **Spiritual Fathers**: The Carmelite Order is unique in that it does not refer to a charismatic founder, but to a prophet of the Old Testament. Elijah and his disciple Elisha are considered by the Carmelites as the spiritual fathers of the order.

- **Transition to Mendicant Order**: Around 1240, due to the losses of the Crusading armies in Palestine, the Carmelites migrated to Cyprus, Sicily, France, and England. The first general chapter of the Carmelites was held in England in 1247 under St. Simon Stock, and the order transformed itself from one of hermits into one of mendicant friars.

- **Discalced Carmelites**: In the 16th century, a reform of the Carmelite Order was initiated by two Spanish saints, Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross. This led to the establishment of the Discalced Carmelites, who wore sandals in place of shoes and stockings.

- **Today**: As of 2022, the Carmelite Order had 2,041 members, including 1,303 priests. The order has spread throughout the world and has grown many branches, collectively referred to as 'the Carmelite family'.

(1) Carmelites - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmelites.

(2) Carmelite | Definition, Meaning, & History | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Carmelites.

(3) The Carmelites – Order of Carmelites. https://carmelites.net/the-carmelites/.

(4) The History of the Carmelite Order – The Carmel of St. Joseph. https://thecarmel.ca/the-history-of-the-carmelite-order-2/.